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In the Developing Literacy Across the Curriculum - Secondary section, there is some information about writing frames. Here is a very detailed frame that I used with some learners in my Year 12 English class. These writers were struggling to include the necessary depth of analysis in their writing so this frame had two purposes: One was to model the kind of analysis that was needed and the other was to show them the required structure and encourage them to add their own ideas to develop the points made.
To view other types of writing frames, click here.
Lord of the Flies Essay Writing Frame
Essay Question: Describe an important symbol or symbols in a text you have studied AND analyse how the symbol(s) helped develop ideas in the text.
Introduction:
States generally what the symbols are and what idea is developed through them
(This is what the question is asking!)
First symbol discussed
More symbols introduced backed up with evidence from the novel
More symbols discussed
Stating Golding’s idea in more detail and explaining how the symbols are showing us this
Another symbol and how this shows Golding’s idea
Conclusion restates the use of symbols to show us Golding’s idea
William Golding’s, Lord of the Flies is an allegorical novel because Golding conveys main ideas and themes through symbolic characters and objects. From the island setting to the boys that try to survive there, all are symbols that represent ideas about human nature and society. This essay will examine the main symbols that show Golding’s belief ofthe conflict between two competing impulses that exist within all human beings: the instinct to live by rules, act peacefully and follow moral commands, against the instinct to gratify one’s immediate desires, act violently to obtain supremacy over others, and enforce one’s will.
The novel begins with the arrival of a group of young boys on an uninhabited island. The island symbolises…. (Finish this sentence and then describe the island. Explain how it is different to the world the boys are familiar with).
Early in the novel, we meet two characters who are symbols of democracy, order and intelligence… (Write about who they are and describe the things they do that show they are symbols. Remember to include the conch, fire and Piggy’s glasses and write about their symbolism too. Add a sentence about how the boys are trying to establish a society that is similar to the one they came from. You will need to write more than one paragraph here).
However, another character, Jack Merridrew makes Ralph and Piggy’s task a difficult one. Jack… (write about what makes Jack a symbol of savagery and anarchy. Explain how he destroys the conch and Piggy’s glasses and what this means. Link in the idea that the symbol of Jack rejects society).
Another character who contributes to the breakdown of order is Roger. He is a symbol of … (describe Roger’s evil actions and how they upset order).
These two characters do not display outwardly savage or evil behaviours right from the beginning of the novel. At first, they essentially follow Ralph’s direction. The “…taboo of the old life… the protection of parents and school and policeman and the law…” stop them from behaving in a savage way. This is because Golding sees moral behaviour, in many cases, as something that civilisation forces upon the individual rather than a natural expression of human individuality. As the weeks pass on the island, the old life that knows nothing of them and is in fact “…in ruins…” becomes more and more a distant memory. Consequently, it has less of a hold on the boys and this is when ‘…the darkness in man’s heart…” surfaces. Golding believes that when left to their own devices, people naturally revert to cruelty, savagery, and barbarism.
The acts of Jack and Roger show us this. The reader is also able to see savagery creeping into other boys on the island (who symbolise common man) as they join in with hunting, chanting and painting their faces. Even Ralph exhibits savage behaviours… (describe some of the savage acts that Ralph is involved in).
The fear of ‘the beast’ on the island also shows us Golding’s belief of an innate, human evil that exists within all of us. The boys are afraid of the beast, but only Simon (a symbol of natural, human goodness) reaches the realization that they fear the beast because it exists within each of them. As the boys grow more savage, their belief in the beast grows stronger. By the end of the novel, the boys are leaving it sacrifices and treating it like a primitive god. The boys’ behaviour is what brings the beast into existence, so the more savagely the boys act, the more real the beast seems to become.
Although not all of the characters exhibit savage behaviours (Piggy, for example exhibits no savage feelings) and those that do, do so to varying degrees, generally Golding implies that the instinct of savagery is far more primal than the instinct of civilisation.
In conclusion, Golding uses characters and objects in Lord of the Flies as symbols to show us his belief in the conflict between civilisation and savagery that exists within all of us. We see this through the disintegration of the young boys’ civilised, moral disciplined behaviour as they accustom themselves to a wild and brutal life on the island.
In the Developing Literacy Across the Curriculum - Secondary section, there is some information about writing frames. Here is a very detailed frame that I used with some learners in my Year 12 English class. These writers were struggling to include the necessary depth of analysis in their writing so this frame had two purposes: One was to model the kind of analysis that was needed and the other was to show them the required structure and encourage them to add their own ideas to develop the points made.
To view other types of writing frames, click here.
Lord of the Flies Essay Writing Frame
Essay Question:
Describe an important symbol or symbols in a text you have studied AND analyse how the symbol(s) helped develop ideas in the text.
Introduction:
States generally what the symbols are and what idea is developed through them
(This is what the question is asking!)
First symbol discussed
More symbols introduced backed up with evidence from the novel
More symbols discussed
Stating Golding’s idea in more detail and explaining how the symbols are showing us this
Another symbol and how this shows Golding’s idea
Conclusion restates the use of symbols to show us Golding’s idea
William Golding’s, Lord of the Flies is an allegorical novel because Golding conveys main ideas and themes through symbolic characters and objects. From the island setting to the boys that try to survive there, all are symbols that represent ideas about human nature and society. This essay will examine the main symbols that show Golding’s belief of the conflict between two competing impulses that exist within all human beings: the instinct to live by rules, act peacefully and follow moral commands, against the instinct to gratify one’s immediate desires, act violently to obtain supremacy over others, and enforce one’s will.
The novel begins with the arrival of a group of young boys on an uninhabited island. The island symbolises…. (Finish this sentence and then describe the island. Explain how it is different to the world the boys are familiar with).
Early in the novel, we meet two characters who are symbols of democracy, order and intelligence… (Write about who they are and describe the things they do that show they are symbols. Remember to include the conch, fire and Piggy’s glasses and write about their symbolism too. Add a sentence about how the boys are trying to establish a society that is similar to the one they came from. You will need to write more than one paragraph here).
However, another character, Jack Merridrew makes Ralph and Piggy’s task a difficult one. Jack… (write about what makes Jack a symbol of savagery and anarchy. Explain how he destroys the conch and Piggy’s glasses and what this means. Link in the idea that the symbol of Jack rejects society).
Another character who contributes to the breakdown of order is Roger. He is a symbol of … (describe Roger’s evil actions and how they upset order).
These two characters do not display outwardly savage or evil behaviours right from the beginning of the novel. At first, they essentially follow Ralph’s direction. The “…taboo of the old life… the protection of parents and school and policeman and the law…” stop them from behaving in a savage way. This is because Golding sees moral behaviour, in many cases, as something that civilisation forces upon the individual rather than a natural expression of human individuality. As the weeks pass on the island, the old life that knows nothing of them and is in fact “…in ruins…” becomes more and more a distant memory. Consequently, it has less of a hold on the boys and this is when ‘…the darkness in man’s heart…” surfaces. Golding believes that when left to their own devices, people naturally revert to cruelty, savagery, and barbarism.
The acts of Jack and Roger show us this. The reader is also able to see savagery creeping into other boys on the island (who symbolise common man) as they join in with hunting, chanting and painting their faces. Even Ralph exhibits savage behaviours… (describe some of the savage acts that Ralph is involved in).
The fear of ‘the beast’ on the island also shows us Golding’s belief of an innate, human evil that exists within all of us. The boys are afraid of the beast, but only Simon (a symbol of natural, human goodness) reaches the realization that they fear the beast because it exists within each of them. As the boys grow more savage, their belief in the beast grows stronger. By the end of the novel, the boys are leaving it sacrifices and treating it like a primitive god. The boys’ behaviour is what brings the beast into existence, so the more savagely the boys act, the more real the beast seems to become.
Although not all of the characters exhibit savage behaviours (Piggy, for example exhibits no savage feelings) and those that do, do so to varying degrees, generally Golding implies that the instinct of savagery is far more primal than the instinct of civilisation.
In conclusion, Golding uses characters and objects in Lord of the Flies as symbols to show us his belief in the conflict between civilisation and savagery that exists within all of us. We see this through the disintegration of the young boys’ civilised, moral disciplined behaviour as they accustom themselves to a wild and brutal life on the island.